The first group that established itself ahead of the peloton had eight riders in it, including Czech cyclocross legend Zdenek Stybar. The maximum gap they built up was six minutes.
Other riders bridged across to this front group, including Huzarski(pictured) and Saur-Sojasun's Lemoine. This ensured that the pace was kept high in the peloton as they tried to bring these fresh riders back.
This pace caused problems in the peloton and there were lots of splits over the climb. One group included Gatto, whose team Farnese Vini dropped everyone back to help. He eventually had to attack across to the front group.
Over the final climb, and with all of the breakaway riders caught and dropped long ago, Vicioso led the front group of eleven over the top. Only Bole had survived for us as Kiserlovski was not feeling particularly strong today. Just the descent to the finish awaited the riders now.
Bole found Gatto's wheel behind Vicioso, while the other eight riders were in one long line. Grega now had to hope that Gatto would jump early.
Unfortunately, Gatto didn't sprint early and Grega had to go from too far back to win, even though he had the pace to win it. Gasparotto just pipped Bertogliati on the line with Bole in third, but closing very quickly. Another 100 metres and he would have won.
Result
1
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
4h47'25
2
Rubens Bertogliati
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
3
Grega Bole
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Jonathan Hivert
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
6
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
8
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
9
Ángel Vicioso
Katusha Team
s.t.
10
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Gabriele Bosisio
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
12
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 1'09
13
Kevin Hulsmans
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
14
Egor Silin
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
15
Daniele Callegarin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
16
Tomasz Lisowicz
Bank BGZ
s.t.
17
Paolo Bailetti
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
18
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
19
Davide Rebellin
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
20
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
21
Sonny Colbrelli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
22
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
+ 2'51
25
Marcello Pavarin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'32
26
Zdenek Stybar
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
27
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
28
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
29
Assan Bazayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
30
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
31
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Robert Kiserlovski
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
+ 4'32
33
Vladislav Borisov
Amore & Vita
s.t.
34
Kristjan Fajt
Adria Mobil
s.t.
35
Javier Megías
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
36
Marco Marzano
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
37
Daniele Colli
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
38
Gianluca Maggiore
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
39
John-Lee Augustyn
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
40
Tomáš Bucháček
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
41
Dmitry Kosyakov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
42
Jure Kocjan
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
+ 6'11
43
Alexandre Pliuschin
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
45
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
46
Valentin Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
47
Laurent Beuret
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
48
Alessandro Bazzana
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
49
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 7'15
50
Cyril Bessy
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
51
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
+ 7'45
52
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
53
Alfredo Balloni
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
54
Bartosz Huzarski
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
+ 8'18
55
Marko Kump
Adria Mobil
+ 9'29
56
Yuriy Agarkov
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
57
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
58
Gregor Gazvoda
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
59
Enrico Battaglin
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
60
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
s.t.
61
Rüdiger Selig
Katusha Team
s.t.
62
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
63
Vitaliy Popkov
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
64
Blaz Furdi
Adria Mobil
s.t.
65
Artem Ovechkin
RusVelo
+ 10'30
66
Pavel Kochetkov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
67
Gustav Erik Larsson
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Pierpaolo De Negri
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
69
Pawel Cieslik
Bank BGZ
+ 11'16
70
Blazej Janiaczyk
Bank BGZ
s.t.
71
Alexander Mironov
RusVelo
s.t.
72
Kristof Vandewalle
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
73
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
74
Tomasz Smolen
Bank BGZ
s.t.
75
Cristiano Benenati
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
76
Kristjan Koren
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
77
Alan Marangoni
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
78
Paolo Longo Borghini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
79
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 11'54
80
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
s.t.
81
Jean-Marc Marino
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
82
Petr Benčík
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
83
Mart Ojavee
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Sergey Firsanov
RusVelo
s.t.
85
Filippo Fortin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
86
Frantisek Padour
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
87
Artur Detko
Bank BGZ
s.t.
88
Enrico Franzoï
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
89
Elia Favilli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
90
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
91
Rafal Majka
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
+ 13'21
92
Alexander Kvachuk
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
93
Nikita Eskov
RusVelo
s.t.
94
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
95
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
+ 14'17
96
Laszló Bodrogi
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
97
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 15'06
98
Marcel Aregger
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
99
Jakub Danačík
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
100
Maxime Méderel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
101
Federico Canuti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
102
Laurent Mangel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
103
Matteo Fedi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
104
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
105
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
106
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
107
Steven Wong
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
108
Angelo Pagani
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
109
William Aranzazu
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
110
Craig Lewis
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
111
Cristian Delle Stelle
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 15'59
112
Anton Vorobyev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
113
Bernardo Colex
Amore & Vita
s.t.
114
William Dugan
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
115
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
116
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
117
Marino Palandri
Amore & Vita
s.t.
118
Aaron Kemps
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
119
Leonid Krasnov
RusVelo
s.t.
120
Vitaliy Buts
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
121
Krzysztof Jeżowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
122
Giuseppe Di Salvo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
123
Arkimedes Arguelyes
RusVelo
s.t.
124
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
125
Evgeniy Kovalev
RusVelo
s.t.
126
Simone Stortoni
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
127
Edoardo Girardi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
128
Igor Frolov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
129
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
130
Matthias Friedemann
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Marco Zanotti
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
132
Anthony Delaplace
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
133
Filippo Baggio
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
134
Daniel Henggeler
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
135
Kristijan Durasek
Adria Mobil
s.t.
136
Jan Keller
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
137
Nicolas Winter
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
138
Enrico Peruffo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
139
Michaël Baer
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
140
Jonathan Fumeaux
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
141
David Dvorsky
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
142
Vladyslav Bakumenko
ISD - Lampre Continental
+ 17'35
143
Gianluca Randazzo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
144
Adriano Malori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
145
Jaan Kirsipuu
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
146
Oleg Opryshko
Amore & Vita
s.t.
147
Piotr Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
s.t.
148
Volodymyr Dzhus
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
149
Denys Karnulin
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
150
Pavel Gorenc
Adria Mobil
s.t.
151
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Itera - Katusha
+ 19'10
152
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
153
Davide Cimolai
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
154
Jarosław Rębiewski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
155
Omar Lombardi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
156
Raphael Addy
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
+ 19'56
157
Artem Tesler
Amore & Vita
+ 20'27
158
Matej Gnezda
Adria Mobil
s.t.
159
Edward King
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
160
Ivan Kovalev
RusVelo
s.t.
161
Viesturs Luksevics
Amore & Vita
s.t.
162
Maksym Vasilyev
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
163
Nicholas Francesconi
Amore & Vita
s.t.
164
Rony Martias
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
165
Eugenio Bani
Amore & Vita
+ 22'41
166
Jakub Vecera
Whirlpool - Author
+ 23'41
Team Summary
It seems Grega just can't quite get it right at the moment. He always does the hard part, surviving the stage, making sure he is on the right side of the splits in the peloton and finds a good wheel in the sprint. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to get the luck to claim the victory, but, nevertheless, another podium place keeps him in his special white UCI Europe Tour leader's jersey and helps the team maintain its superb start to life in the peloton. The rest of the team were, well, disapponting, apart from Stybar, who had good legs in the breakaway.
Alakagom wrote:
Great result in Sarda and very nice overview. Keep it up, we are coming to the interesting part of the season. So the fast updating really paid off
Comments like this really motivate me to do this story as well as I can. It's not the first one from you either Thanks a lot Alakagom.
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
Our next race is the Strade Bianche, held in Tuscany, Italy. The race is 190 kilometres long and is up and down all day. However, the main feature of this race is the gravel sections that make this race so special. Cancellara, Kolobnev and Gilbert have all won this race in the past, showing that it is definitely one for the classics specialists. This is our last race for a while as we will not be taking part in Paris-Nice or the Tirreno-Adriatico, so we want the team to give it their best shot. Bole is our leader, of course, but Spilak and Szymd are also here to try their hand over the tough roads.
Race Favourites
Damiano Cunego (Lampre - ISD)
Roman Kreuziger (Astana)
Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma - Quickstep)
brewers90 wrote:
Also, just a quick post to say that that was the first victory by a rider that was individually picked by you guys! Congratulations to cio93 who picked Pliuschin. You, Sir, are a winner!
If you're reading this story, that is!
Thank you
I have to admit I had to catch up from Qatar, but that's just due to no time.
I really like the story, you're doing a great job!
Regarding Pliuschin:
I already loved his San Luis performance, and although I know someone else would have surely picked him if I did not, every great effort by him somehow has a personal effect like it was a "your riders"-story
After an early group had been brought back by the peloton, Bodrogi (Team Type 1) decided to go on the attack over an early gravel section. He was on his own for quite a while out front.
As they climbed Montalcino, three further riders joined Bodrogi in the breakaway. None of these riders were good climbers and the peloton were very happy to let them go.
However, more and more riders attacked across. Firstly, Colbrelli of Colnago went solo, and then, Boillat and Klimov both got across to make a group of seven.
Then, more riders, including Koren, Felline and Devolder bridged the gap and the front group started to get dangerous as the thirteen riders all worked together to build a five minute gap.
However, Lampre and Astana lifted the pace a lot and a peloton, which had been reduced to 50 riders by now, was catching the breakaway quickly. All of our riders apart from Gazvoda were still in this group.
And, with 10km to go, the final members of the break were caught, and the attacks begun. Gasparotto, Carrara, Szymd and Mazzanti all tried to get away but Lampre were keeping the pace way too high for any attacks to succeed.
This meant that it came down to the final, uphill sprint, and unsurprisingly, it was Cunego who took a simple win from Astana's Gavazzi. Bole was edged into fourth by Failli, so no podium today. Spilak, Szymd and Grivko all finished in the top twenty aswell.
Result
1
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - ISD
5h26'02
2
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
3
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 17
4
Grega Bole
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
6
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
8
Sergey Firsanov
RusVelo
s.t.
9
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
10
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Kevin Hulsmans
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
12
Simon Spilak
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
14
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
15
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
16
Kristof Vandewalle
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
18
Sylwester Szmyd
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
19
Andriy Grivko
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Serguei Klimov
RusVelo
s.t.
21
Joris Boillat
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
22
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Kevin De Weert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Stijn Devolder
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
25
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
26
Marco Marzano
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
27
Kristjan Koren
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
28
Tomasz Marczynski
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
30
Sonny Colbrelli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
31
Pavel Kochetkov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
32
René Jørgensen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
33
Davide Viganò
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
34
Fabio Felline
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
35
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
36
Luca Ascani
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
37
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
38
Egor Silin
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
39
Alexander Khatuntsev
RusVelo
s.t.
40
Alessandro Bazzana
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
41
Francesco Ginanni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 1'42
42
Cristiano Benenati
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 2'14
43
Davide Ricci Bitti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 2'30
44
Francesco Masciarelli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
45
Rob Ruijgh
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Marcel Aregger
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
+ 3'06
47
Pawel Cieslik
Bank BGZ
s.t.
48
Constantino Zaballa
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
49
Levi Leipheimer
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
51
Laszló Bodrogi
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
52
Danilo Di Luca
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
53
Bert Grabsch
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
54
Matteo Bono
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
55
Andrea Girardini
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 3'34
56
Alexandre Pliuschin
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
58
Andrei Nechita
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
59
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3'56
60
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
61
Andrey Zeits
Astana Pro Team
+ 4'07
62
Massimo Graziato
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
63
Francesco Reda
Acqua & Sapone
+ 5'06
64
Cristiano Monguzzi
Utensilnord Named
+ 7'21
65
Paolo Longo Borghini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
66
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 7'58
67
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
+ 9'45
68
Gregor Gazvoda
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
+ 12'10
69
Enrico Franzoï
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 12'26
70
Marko Kump
Adria Mobil
s.t.
71
Rémy Cusin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
72
Alfredo Balloni
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
73
Kristjan Mugerli
Adria Mobil
s.t.
74
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
75
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
76
Radoslav Rogina
Adria Mobil
s.t.
77
Vegard Stake Laengen
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
78
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
79
Mart Ojavee
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
80
Michele Gaia
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
81
Frantisek Padour
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
82
Josef Hosek
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
83
Jan Keller
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
84
Edoardo Girardi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
85
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
86
Blaz Furdi
Adria Mobil
s.t.
87
Matteo Fedi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
88
Brian Vandborg
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
89
Marcello Pavarin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Artem Tesler
Amore & Vita
s.t.
91
Angelo Pagani
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
92
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
93
Matvey Zubov
RusVelo
s.t.
94
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
95
Vladislav Borisov
Amore & Vita
s.t.
96
Stefano Agostini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
97
Marco Zanotti
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
98
Simon Pavlin
Adria Mobil
s.t.
99
Nikolai Trussov
RusVelo
s.t.
100
David Dvorsky
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
101
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
102
Kun Jiang
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
103
Igor Frolov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
104
Giuseppe Di Salvo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
105
Pavel Gorenc
Adria Mobil
s.t.
106
Antonino Parrinello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
107
Alan Marangoni
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
108
Artur Ershov
RusVelo
s.t.
109
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
110
Piotr Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
s.t.
111
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
112
Aaron Kemps
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
113
Jarosław Rębiewski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
114
Peter Kusztor
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
115
Fabio Sabatini
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 14'15
116
Alessandro De Marchi
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
117
Sławomir Kohut
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 15'00
118
Kristian Sobota
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
119
Alexander Foliforov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
120
Stiven Fanelli
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
121
Jonathan Fumeaux
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
122
Jiri Hudecek
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
123
Konrad Czajkowski
Bank BGZ
+ 15'29
124
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 16'10
125
Antonio Santoro
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
126
Julien Vermote
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
127
Philipp Mamos
Amore & Vita
+ 19'00
128
Filippo Baggio
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
129
Viesturs Luksevics
Amore & Vita
s.t.
130
Ivan Savitsky
RusVelo
s.t.
131
Jaroslaw Dabrowski
Amore & Vita
s.t.
132
Gianluca Maggiore
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
133
Steven Wong
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
134
Jaan Kirsipuu
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
135
Anton Storchous
Amore & Vita
s.t.
136
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
s.t.
137
Martin Pedersen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
138
Marco Coledan
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
139
Federico Rocchetti
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
140
Patrick Schelling
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
141
Joey Rosskopf
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
142
Nikita Eskov
RusVelo
s.t.
143
Andrea Piechele
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
144
Martin Lind
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
145
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
146
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
147
Nikita Novikov
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
148
Daniel Foder
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
149
Alexander Serebryakov
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
150
Bernhard Oberholzer
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
151
Marcin Urbanowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
152
Gianluca Randazzo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
153
Radoslaw Swiatek
Bank BGZ
s.t.
154
Nicolas Winter
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
155
Barry Markus
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
156
Patrick Schubert
Bank BGZ
+ 20'23
157
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
158
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
159
Adam Stachowiak
Bank BGZ
s.t.
160
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
161
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
162
Mikhail Antonov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
163
Kiel Reijnen
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 20'47
164
Eugenio Bani
Amore & Vita
+ 23'23
165
Simon Pellaud
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
166
Jiri Polnicky
Whirlpool - Author
+ 25'44
167
Martijn Verschoor
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 27'10
168
Jakub Vecera
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
Team Summary
No complaints today. A good, solid performance from the team and a good result for Bole in a difficult, prestigious race. Lampre totally deserved this victory as they did almost all of the work to bring the BotD back, and Cunego was too good for the other riders in a finish like that. We now have a two week gap in our calendar, and due to our wildcard for Milano - San Remo being turned down, our next race will be our first ever race in France, the Cholet - Pays de Loire.
Race Winner
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
The second World Tour race of the season, the "race to the sun" is an eight-stage race in France. Obviously, we were not invited to this race, but here is an overview of the race. Despite some magnificent performances from Kiryienka, in the end, the winner wasn't particularly surprising.
The next World Tour race is Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy, which has seven stages, including both a team and an individual time trial and some tough stages in between. We had wanted to race this but the organisers went for four Italian teams instead. Team Sky were on fire here the whole week, with good performances from Cavendish, Swift, Boasson Hagen, Flecha and in particular Thomas, the Welshman coming to life on Stage 4 and taking a superb podium finish at the end. However, the winner was someone who we'll be seeing a lot of over the next few weeks.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stage 5
Stage 6
Stage 7
Final GC
Race Winner
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
The first monument of the season is the "sprinter's classic", Milan - San Remo. Nearly 300km long, you have to have serious stamina if you want to win here. Again, we tried to get a wildcard, but we'll have to wait for our World Tour debut. Team Sky picked up where they left off in the Tirreno-Adriatico with a great victory here as the Manx Missile opened his account for the season, ahead of Farrar and Petacchi.
Result
Race Winner
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
We return from our short break with our debut on French roads with the Grand Prix Cholet Pays de Loire. This is a flat one day race, which will almost certainly come down to a mass sprint. Our team is led by Yauheni Hutarovich, who returns to action and will try to take the win in the event of the likely bunch sprint. Peter Velits is also taking part purely to get some fitness, but if the right attack should materialise near the end, he will be free to follow. The rest of the team is free to go for the breakaway, apart from Sagan, who is Hutarovich's personal domestique.
Race Favourites
Anthony Ravard (AG2R - La Mondiale)
Sebastian Chavanel (Europcar)
Yauheni Hutarovich (Skoda - Orlen)
Outsiders
Denis Flahaut (Roubaix)
Michael Matthews (Rabobank)
Keven Lacombe (Spidertech)
Worth a Bet
Andre Schulze (NetApp)
Michael van Staeyen (Topsport)
Manuel Belletti (AG2R - La Mondiale)
Alexei Markov (RusVelo)
Bobbie Traksel (Landbouwkrediet)
Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur - Sojasun)
When the peloton eventually let a group go, the breakaway contained 14 riders. Our representative was Huzarski and, despite his best efforts, Martin Velits wasn't able to join him.
A third of the way through the stage, Hutarovich hit the tarmac on a short descent. Nobody else was involved and, fortunately, he got back on and was fine. Sagan paced him back to the front of the peloton.
It was up to AG2R and Landbouwkrediet to bring the BotD back after the gap had reached six minutes. Gene (Europcar) tried to break a few times, but nobody went with him so he kept abandoning the attacks.
Into the last ten kilometres, Huzarski decided to give it one last go with the peloton catching the break quickly. He was 40 seconds clear of the peloton with 5km to go.
But he was brought back in the final few kilometres and the bunch sprint was easily won by Belletti of AG2R. Hutarovich? He was completely boxed in from 3km to go, and couldn't even get a top 20. Peter Velits, on the other hand, sprinted to a fine 8th place.
Result The game crashed after the race, so I couldn't export the results.
Team Summary
Today was never really a big goal as it was just the start of the second part of our season, but Huzarski rode brillantly and was unlucky to be caught in the last three kilometres. Peter Velits took a great top ten in a mass sprint, whilst Huta just couldn't go anywhere as he was completely boxed. It's difficult to know where he would have finished had he been free to go, because his crash earlier had taken a bit out of him. He certainly wouldn't have won though.
Next up is the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali in Emilia Romagna, Italy. This race is six stages long, and will include the team's first ever team time trial on stage 2, as well as an individual time trial on stage 5. Of the remaining stages, two are flat and two are hilly, so the time trials will be very important. We are sending a strong team to Italy, including Bole, Bozic, Spilak, Szymd and Kocjan. This should enable us to get at least one stage win, whilst the team time trial will probably be a very steep learning curve for the team. Of course, we would love to win the race, but only Spilak is a recognised time triallist, so stage wins would appear to be the better target.
The race starts with a very short stage in the town of Riccione, with one short, steep hill to be climbed nine times. We have a very good chance of getting something in the sprint today.
On a gloomy, miserable day, eight riders went on the attack early on. None of these riders were particularly strong and with it being such a short stage, they stood no chance of staying away until the end.
As the rain continued to lash down, Skoda - Orlen were doing all of the work at the front of the peloton and the breakaway riders were kept within sight at all times.
In the first of many crashes, Garzelli hit the deck. Later on in the stage, there were three mass pile-ups, taking down Garzelli (again), Napolitano, Pozzovivo and Stortoni. All of these would lose time. Five riders had to withdraw, the biggest name being Tiernan-Locke (Endura).
Another Endura rider was off the front, though, as Iker Camano went solo, building up a 1 minute lead before we began to pull that back aswell. Meanwhile, Grega told us he was feeling excellent today and Bozic accepted working for his team mate on this occasion.
Camano put up a good fight but with 5km to go, it was over. Our leadout was already in full swing with Der, Kocjan and Bozic ready to unleash Bole. With Napolitano way out the back, we were clear favourites.
And when Kocjan started his sprint, nobody went with us, leaving Bole and Bozic to take a superb 1-2 for the team. Slovenian power was definitely in evidence here! Great start for the team
Result
1
Grega Bole
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
1h58'31
2
Borut Božic
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
5
Martin Mortensen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Rob Ruijgh
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
9
Federico Canuti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
10
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Daniele Colli
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
12
Davide Rebellin
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
13
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
14
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
15
Jure Kocjan
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
16
Tomasz Smolen
Bank BGZ
s.t.
17
Nikolai Trussov
RusVelo
s.t.
18
Iker Camaño
Endura Racing
s.t.
19
Constantino Zaballa
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
20
Pierpaolo De Negri
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
21
Paul Voss
Endura Racing
s.t.
22
Sergey Firsanov
RusVelo
s.t.
23
Elia Favilli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
24
Alexandre Blain
Endura Racing
s.t.
25
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
26
Alfredo Balloni
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
27
Tomasz Lisowicz
Bank BGZ
s.t.
28
Rubens Bertogliati
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
29
Pavel Kochetkov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
30
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
31
Simon Spilak
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Ivan Kovalev
RusVelo
s.t.
33
Diego Caccia
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
34
René Mandri
Endura Racing
s.t.
35
Sylwester Szmyd
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Zsolt Der
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Cristiano Benenati
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
38
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Alessandro Bazzana
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
40
Marcello Pavarin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
41
Rafal Majka
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
43
Cristiano Monguzzi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
44
Gabriele Bosisio
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
45
Daniele Righi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
46
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
47
Daniele Ratto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
48
Sonny Colbrelli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
49
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
50
Ian Bibby
Endura Racing
s.t.
51
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Alexander Serov
RusVelo
s.t.
53
Enrico Peruffo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
54
Laszló Bodrogi
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
55
Krzysztof Jeżowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
56
Omar Lombardi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
57
Radoslav Romanik
Bank BGZ
s.t.
58
Aljaz Hocevar
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'30
59
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 2'47
60
Ian Wilkinson
Endura Racing
s.t.
61
Marco Zanotti
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
62
Andrea Piechele
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
63
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
64
Rémy Cusin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
65
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
66
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
67
Laurent Beuret
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
68
William Aranzazu
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
69
Michaël Baer
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
70
Vitaliy Popkov
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
71
Christopher Butler
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
72
Simone Stortoni
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
73
Artem Tesler
Amore & Vita
s.t.
74
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
+ 3'14
75
Josef Hosek
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
76
Marco Canola
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 3'32
77
Steven Wong
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
+ 4'05
78
Marcel Aregger
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
79
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 4'38
80
Marko Kump
Adria Mobil
s.t.
81
Kristjan Mugerli
Adria Mobil
s.t.
82
Kin San Wu
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
83
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
84
Jan Keller
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
85
Yuriy Agarkov
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
86
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
87
Jiri Hudecek
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
88
Pirmin Lang
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
89
Aaron Kemps
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
91
Frantisek Padour
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
92
Petr Benčík
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
93
Matej Jurco
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
94
Eugenio Bani
Amore & Vita
s.t.
95
Marino Palandri
Amore & Vita
s.t.
96
Blazej Janiaczyk
Bank BGZ
s.t.
97
Raphael Addy
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
98
Łukasz Bodnar
Bank BGZ
s.t.
99
Volodymyr Dzhus
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
100
Russell Downing
Endura Racing
s.t.
101
David Dvorsky
Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
102
Kristjan Fajt
Adria Mobil
s.t.
103
Artur Detko
Bank BGZ
s.t.
104
Julien Antomarchi
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
105
Craig Lewis
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
106
Jaan Kirsipuu
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
107
Sławomir Kohut
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
108
Vladyslav Bakumenko
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
109
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
110
Michele Gaia
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
111
Oleg Opryshko
Amore & Vita
s.t.
112
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
113
Alexander Mironov
RusVelo
s.t.
114
Blaz Furdi
Adria Mobil
s.t.
115
Radoslav Rogina
Adria Mobil
s.t.
116
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
117
Vladislav Borisov
Amore & Vita
s.t.
118
Yovcho Yovchev
Amore & Vita
s.t.
119
Oleksandr Martynenko
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
120
Angelo Pagani
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
121
Andrey Solomennikov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
122
Filippo Baggio
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
123
Davide Cimolai
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
124
Alexander Prishpetniy
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
125
Cristiano Salerno
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
126
Moreno Moser
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
127
Filippo Fortin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
128
Nikita Eskov
RusVelo
s.t.
129
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
130
Gianluca Maggiore
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
131
Stiven Fanelli
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
132
Giuseppe Di Salvo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
133
Alexander Serebryakov
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
134
Adam Stachowiak
Bank BGZ
s.t.
135
Winner Anacona
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
136
Viktor Shmalko
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
137
Patrick Schelling
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
+ 7'33
138
Matteo Fedi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
139
David Rosch
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
140
Matej Gnezda
Adria Mobil
s.t.
141
Evgeniy Kovalev
RusVelo
s.t.
142
Edoardo Girardi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
GC
1
Grega Bole
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
1h58'11
2
Borut Božic
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
+ 8
3
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 12
4
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 20
5
Martin Mortensen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Rob Ruijgh
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
9
Federico Canuti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
10
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
Points
1
Grega Bole
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
25
2
Borut Božic
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
20
3
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
16
4
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
14
5
Martin Mortensen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
12
KOM
1
Sylwester Szmyd
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
10
2
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
8
3
Zsolt Der
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
6
4
Jure Kocjan
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
4
5
Simon Spilak
Skoda - Orlen Professional Cycling Team
2
Team Summary
What a magnificent day for the team. With quite a few of the sprinters out the back of the peloton, and others stranded at the back of the peloton with no teammates, it was a fairly straight forward one for us but it was still executed superbly as Bozic led out Bole. Next time, their roles may well be switched but today Bole felt great. Now it's the team time trial, which will probably be quite bad for us, but, we have nevertheless already achieved our goal of at least one stage win.
Stage Winner
Manager of Bunzl - Centrica
ICL's World Tour Champions and Talented Bottlers
